Exotic hampers
Graham Herterich of The Cupcake Bloke bakery and cake shop in Rialto, Dublin 8, has taken inspiration from his travels, especially in the Middle East, Egypt and Morocco, to create a wonderful Easter hamper that can be delivered nationwide.
“This is the most personal collection I have produced, drawing on memories of the hustle and bustle, the aromas and flavours of various food markets and food stalls, sipping glasses of apple tea with cake,” he says.
The hampers are beautifully presented and contain a large Simnel brack, pistachio, orange and cardamom shortbread, carrot and walnut bakewells, Basbousa (an Egyptian semolina and coconut cake flavoured with orange blossom, grapefruit and vanilla), sweet dukkah, jars of carrot jam with bay and cinnamon and almond butter, and Turkish apple, mango and mint tea from Clement & Pekoe.
They can be ordered from thebakerybythecupcakebloke.com and cost €65 collected from the shop, or €75 delivered nationwide. See thebakerybythecupcakebloke.clickandcollection.com
Spectacular eggs
The seasonal collections from chocolatier Erik Van der Veken are always eagerly awaited, and his Easter selection this year includes six spectacular eggs, including one based on the Tiffin chocolate bar, created by his assistant chocolatier, Niamh O’Rourke.
However, the most dramatic of the six is the Or Noir, which has Cacao Barry dark chocolate and caramelised hazelnut and wafer pieces, topped off with a flourish of 21-carat gold leaf. It is the most expensive of the collection, at €69, and weighs 500-550g.
The large eggs can be collected from the Arcane Chocolate lab in Mulhuddart or delivered to addresses in greater Dublin, and are also on sale in Fallon & Byrne, The Butler’s Pantry and Forest Avenue.
A selection of mini eggs, featuring all six varieties, is available in nine- and 16-piece boxes that can be delivered nationwide. See arcanechocolate.com.
Sustainable packaging
Lir chocolatier in Navan, Co Meath has introduced new packaging for its Easter eggs that is sustainable and 99 per cent plastic-free. The range is widely available in Tesco, SuperValu and Centra, and can also be purchased online, at lirchocolates.com.
Taste for the dramatic
Praliné Chocolatiers is another new chocolate-making business born out of the pandemic. Chefs and partners Georgia Quealy and Daniel Linehan met when both were studying at Athlone Institute of Technology. They subsequently worked together at Michelin starred restaurant Campagne in Kilkenny, and last October they launched their new business, making luxury chocolates.
The chocolates are currently being made in the kitchen at Beans & Leaves coffee shop in Athlone, run by Linehan's parents Martina and Steve, while they search for their own premises.
Current flavours in the collection include blackberry and vanilla, made with crème de mûr they made themselves last autumn with foraged blackberries, along with Oriel Sea Salt caramel, single origin ganache, and hazelnut.
A box of 16 costs €20, plus €5 delivery anywhere in Ireland. Their debut Easter egg, a triple layer construction of dark and milk chocolate and caramel praline, filled with truffles, sold out on pre-order when they reached their current maximum capacity of 100 units. See pralinechocolatiers.com
